Dispelling Some Myths about Solar

There have been myths about the sun and its power throughout most of recorded history. For instance, in Chinese mythology, there were reportedly 10 suns in the sky and they were all brothers.  The ancient Greeks personified the sun as a Titan named Helios, who wore a shining crown and rode a chariot across the sky, creating what we know as “Day”.

Today, myths about the sun have moved from personification to postulization. The debate about whether or not solar power is a smart investment for commercial and residential properties is a lively one and has created some myths.  Let's dispel a few of those myths with help from Precision Solar, a division of Precision Industries.

Myth #1 - Solar power is too expensive.  Fact - Properly designed and installed solar systems typically offer a payback period of approximately 3-6 years.  With the CUC offering 20 year contracts to buy back the power produced from commercial and residential solar systems in Grand Cayman, solar power is now affordable.  Many lending institutions now offer financing as well.

A smaller solar array on a garage or shed may be used to power your pool pump and heater; one of the largest power hogs in the home.

Myth #2 - Solar panels require constant maintenance.  Fact - Since there are no moving parts, the panels rarely require maintenance or cleaning, plus the average warranty on panels is 25 years!

Myth #3 - Solar panels will damage the integrity of your rooftop.  Fact - Properly installed panels will not damage your rooftop, provided they are installed by knowledgeable roofing experts and follow a proper engineering plan.

Solar panels can be installed on any roof surface – the connections details are reviewed by a structural engineer on a case-by-case basis

You don't need to use the power produced in a solar array in your own home. The common solution is to send it out directly into the CUC grid, metered as it goes out, offsetting the charges on the incoming meter.

You can start with just a few panels and add more as you can afford them

Ask a solar expert for a forecast of how you can generate income from your rooftop, and visit a job site to see how a solar system is installed.